Data Security Posture Management (DSPM)LinkShadow DSPM focuses on safeguarding sensitive data across cloud and on-prem environments. It aligns with Identify
(knowing your data and its exposure), Protect (governing access and data security controls), Detect (monitoring for data
threats), and Respond (remediating data incidents), as well as governance of compliance:Identify (ID): DSPM’s first step is Data Discovery and Classification – it automatically locates where all data is stored (on-premises, cloud, databases, etc.) and identifies what data is sensitive or regulated. This supports Asset Management
outcomes for data (ID.AM), ensuring the organization has an up-to-date inventory of its information assets. By categorizing
data by sensitivity (e.g. personal data, financial records), DSPM also contributes to prioritizing assets based on criticality,
which is an expected ID.AM outcome (i.e., resources are identified and ranked by their importance). In essence, LinkShadow
DSPM gives clarity on “What data do we have, and where is it?” – a foundational Identify function question.Protect (PR): A major component of DSPM is Access Governance, which directly maps to Protect – Identity Management &
Access Control (PR. AA). DSPM provides real-time insight into who has access to critical data and alerts on improper access
permissions. It helps enforce least-privilege principles by identifying overly broad data access and enabling remediation
(e.g. revoking unnecessary permissions). By governing data access and detecting misconfigurations (like public data shares
or weak controls), LinkShadow DSPM addresses Protect – Data Security (PR.DS) outcomes. It ensures that sensitive data is
properly secured (e.g. not exposed to unauthorized users or left unencrypted in cloud buckets), and that protective
measures (encryption, masking, etc.) are in place. These measures reduce the likelihood of data breaches, fulfilling the
Protect function’s goal of safeguarding critical assets.Detect (DE): In its “Detect & Respond” phase, DSPM continuously monitors data access and usage for signs of threat.
It can spot abnormal data access patterns (e.g. a user suddenly downloading large volumes of sensitive files) in real time.
This aligns with Detect – Continuous Monitoring (DE.CM), but specifically for data transactions. The DSPM engine uses AI to
scan for potential data breaches or policy violations and generates alerts when suspicious activity is observed. For example,
if malware starts exfiltrating data or an insider attempts unauthorized data access, LinkShadow will detect the event
promptly. These capabilities ensure that anomalies in data usage are detected and analyzed (DE.AE) as required by the CSF.Respond (RS): LinkShadow DSPM facilitates fast response to data threats. When an incident or policy violation is detected (e.g. sensitive data being accessed by an unauthorized account), DSPM can trigger alerts to security personnel and integrate
with response workflows (like Data Loss Prevention or SOAR tools) to contain the threat. It supports Incident Mitigation
(RS.MI) by enabling quick actions – for instance, revoking a user’s access or locking down a data store if suspicious behaviour
is detected. Moreover, DSPM’s continuous monitoring ensures adherence to compliance standards; if a compliance-related
threshold is tripped, the platform can prompt immediate corrective actions.Incident analysis is also enhanced: DSPM provides detailed logs of which data was accessed by whom and when, which is crucial for Respond – Analysis and Improvement (RS.AN). This forensic detail helps the response team determine if data was
compromised and assess impact.Recover (RC): From a recovery standpoint, DSPM helps mainly by limiting the blast radius of data incidents and ensuring regulatory requirements are met post-incident. By ensuring compliance with global privacy regulations and generating
audit-ready reports, LinkShadow DSPM supports the recovery process in terms of legal/PR recovery – organizations can
demonstrate what data was exposed and what controls were in place, aiding communication with stakeholders (RC.CO).
Additionally, because DSPM stresses preventive controls and rapid detection, any data incident is likely contained more
quickly, making recovery plan execution (RC.RP) simpler (fewer systems affected, less data lost). While actual data restoration
(e.g. from backups) is outside DSPM’s role, the platform’s insights into which data was affected guide IT teams on recovery
priorities, ensuring critical data and services are restored first (a key consideration in recovery planning).Compliance Focus: It’s worth noting that LinkShadow DSPM was designed with compliance in mind. The product helps
answer questions like “Are our data controls sufficient to comply with GDPR, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and other privacy laws?”.
By automating data classification and monitoring, DSPM automates compliance checks and helps avoid costly regulatory
penalties. This governance aspect means DSPM not only protects data (technical control) but also provides assurance for
Governance (GV) outcomes related to policy compliance and oversight. For example, continuous validation that sensitive
data is not overexposed fulfils the intent of GV.PO and GV. OV (having policies and oversight to protect data per regulations).
